Six Weird Things About Me...

Okay, so after several days and a little consulting with Husband, I have come up with the six weird things about me...

1. I love to cut coupons, but I almost never use them. Seriously, I salivate at the thought of the Sunday paper because of the coupons. When we get home from Starbucks, I take out the insert, slowly leaf through the sale fliers and pull out the coupon booklets. On a good Sunday there are three booklets; on a bad one, none, which I will never understand. You horrible teasing coupon people, how could you be so mean? So I cut out the coupons, and organize them all in my little coupon organizer (oh yes...food, baby stuff, cleaning products, health & beauty and miscellaneous). Then before each grocery trip, I carefully go through and gather the coupons I might need. I have high hopes. BUT, it never fails that when I get to that product on the shelves, and I see the store brand, it is cheaper. Damn! If you went through my jeans or coat pockets, or the bottom of my diaper bag, you would find countless crumpled up coupons that I have rejected at the last minute.

2. I have to tap twice on the top of a can of soda before opening it. I don't know why. I think someone in college told me that it keeps the beer foam from spritzing out when you pop the top of the can. But really--when's the last time an undisturbed can of soda sprayed you when you opened it?

3. I count telephone poles. Fortunately, only when I am a passenger, but sometimes get totally obsessed with counting the telephone poles as we drive by them. I have since I was a little kid sitting in the backseat of the car. It made driving across country when I was 12 a real challenge.

4. I don't share food well. Yes, it's a little "Joey" of me, but I have a tough time sharing my food. I never realized it until I started eating sushi, which I am passionate about. Husband and I would go out with a big group and everyone would order tons of maki rolls. When the platters of rolls showed up, I would notice people taking pieces from the rolls I ordered. I don't get nasty about it or anything, but it causes me anxiety to watch someone else eat my food. Now don't get me wrong, I offer to share food all the time--it's only when someone takes without asking that I get a little panicky. Yes, it's very strange.

5. I am Jewish and went to Catholic schools for 11 years. The public schools in my hometown weren't of the greatest quality when I attended first grade, so from 2nd-12th grade, I attended St. Christopher, St Louis Jr High & Mt. St. Mary's High School for Young Women. I was the token Jew and was a minor celebrity. The first time I ever fainted was when Sr. DeSales asked me to come to the front of the class and recite a prayer in Hebrew. I was in 2nd grade and all I remember is opening my mouth to start the prayer and I woke up in the nurse's office. I also tried to take communion once during First Friday Mass and that ended badly, but that's a whole different post.

6. I have an extra toenail on each pinkie toe. Ick. Yes, I know. Each of my pinkie toes has this weird extra toenail on the outside of it. Always has. It can make pedicures a bit uncomfortable. I have to tell each pedicurist NOT to try to cut it off like it's some little callous. And some of them actually argue with me about it--"Oh, no, honey, I can get that off for you. You don't need it." And then they try. And it's like they are trying to peel off one of my toenails (because, duh, they are!) Generally it just takes one giant yelp of pain from me and they back off---it's not good for business to have your client screaming in pain while they're in your chair.

So there you have it--more weird stuff about me than you EVER needed to know. And now, I'd like to hear from Amy, Andrea, KMW & Becki.